UC-NRLF 


LIBRARY  REPORT 

OF 

South  Dakota  Libraries 

t908 


BY 

Wm.  H.  POWERS 
PRESIDENT  S,  D.  S.  L.  A. 


SCHOOL 


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Library   Report 


SOUTH  DAKOTA  LIBRARIES 

By  the  kindness  of  Wm.  H.  Powers,  President  of  the  South  Dakota  Library 
Association,  this  report  on  the  libraries  of  the  state  is  herewith  submitted. 


019 


Library   Report 


Blockings,  S.  D.,  October  29,  1908. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  a  report  upon  the  condition  of  li- 
braries in  South  Dakota,  Such  report  is  made  as  the  result  of  correspondence 
with  you  and  Governor  Crawford.  In  response  to  a  letter  from  me  concerning 
the  desirability  of  legislation  providing  for  a  report  upon  libraries,  Governor 
Crawford  wrote  as  follows : 

January  12,  1907. 

MY  DEAR  SIR:  I  do  not  think  any  legislation  is  necessary  in  the  matter 
concerning  which  you  write.  The  association  of  the  Librarians  of  the  State  ie 
one  which  is  so  closely  allied  to  the  educational  system  of  the  state  that  it  see  me 
to  me  entirely  proper  for  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  to  incorporate 
a  report  like  the  one  you  suggest  in  his  biennial  report. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Cos  I.  CRAWFORD,  Governor. 
MR.  WM.  H.  POWERS. 

m  As  you  signified  your  readiness  to  receive  such  report,  when  the  governor's 
opinion  was  communicated  to  you,  in  behalf  of  the  State  Library  Association  I 
present  the  following  information : 

Yours  respectfully, 

WM.  H.  POWERS.  Pres.  S.  D.,  S.  L.  A 
To  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  Pierre,  South  Dakota: 

The  South  Dakota  State  Library  Association  owes  its  present  organization 
to  the  meeting  held  in  Sioux  Falls,  1906,  in  conjunction  with  the  Educational 
Association.  The  first  attempt  at  organization  dates  from  a  meeting  in  May, 
1904,  with  the  Federation  of 'Wpmen's  Clubs.  The  curious  may  learn  about 
this  and  other  interesting  matters  in  the  report  of  the  Sioux  Falls  meeting  pub- 
lished by  the  Educational  Association. 

In  1907  statistics  were  gathered  and  published  thru  the  courtesy  of  the 
State  Journal  of  Education  in  the  October  number  of  that  Journal.  Another 
meeting  of  the  Association  was  held  in  Watertown,  also  in  conjunction  with  the 
Educational  Association.  Because  of  the  meeting  of  the  American  Library 
Association  at  Minnetonka  in  June,  1908,  which  it  was  hoped  a  goodly  number 
of  our  librarians  might  attend,  it  was  decided  not  to  prepare  a  program  for  a 
meeting  at  Aberdeen  in  December,  1908. 


SOUTH  DAKOTA  LIBRARIES 


This  report  embodies  statistics  gathered  in  response  to  inquiries  sent  out  to 
the  libraries  and  schools.  The  response  has  not  been  as  ready  as  had  been  ex- 
pected— there  seems  to  be  an  ingrained  antipathy  to  the  making  of  reports — yet 
the  information  concerning  all  but  high  school  libraries  is  fairly  complete  and, 
it  is  hoped,  is  accurate.  High  School  libraries  were  included  because  the  recent 
law  gives  to  the  development  of  libraries  in  the  schools  such  impulse  that  the 
number  of  volumes  in  the  high  schools  already  far  outnumbers  these  in  the  pub- 
iic  libraries.  It  is  to  be  presumed,  therefore,  that  such  libraries  are  at  present 
showing  a  larger  usefulness  than  other  libraries  can.  It  was  with  the  thought  of 
such  conditions  that  the  program  for  the  Sioux  Falls  meeting  was  arranged;  for 
in  that  program  special  emphasis  was  placed  upon  the  library  as  it  affected  the 
schools.  The  usefulness  of  the  school  libraries  in  South  Dakota,  great  as  it  is, 
would  be  greatly  increased,  so  at  least  some  of  those  who  give  their  whole  time 
to  library  work  have  thought,  if  the  teachers  could  learn  somethng  of  library 
methods.  It  is  with  such  end  in  view  that  in  many  normal  schools  the  embryo 
teachers  are  given  a  course  of  library  instruction,  So  important  is  the  matter 
that  the  National  Educational  Association  recently  published  a  pamphlet,  enti- 
tled, Instruction  in  Library  Administration  in  Normal  Schools. 


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LIBRARY  REPORT  11 


Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  Association  has  received  reports  from  32  libraries 
besides  reports  from  high  school  libraries.  There  are  others  from  which  no  re- 
ports have  been  received :  From  the  penitentiary,  from  other  state  institutions, 
from  a  few  denominational  institutions,  and  from  the  following  towns,  where  it 
is  said  libraries  exist:  Clear  Lake,  Faulkton,  Castlewood,  Howard,  Ipswich, 
and  Pukwana.  Regarding  some  of  these  towns  the  information  came  too  late 
to  admit  of  asking  them  for  a  report  Yet  as  these  libraries  not  reporting  are 
all  of  them  small ,  the  totals  obtained  from  those  reporting  are  fairly  accurate. 

Tota1  volumes  in  state  institutions  54,190 

Totai  volumes  in  other  institutions 24,331 

Total  volumes  in  Carnegie  public  libraries 37,298 

Total  volumes  in  other  public  libraries 12,885 

Total  volumes  outside  of  school  libraries 128,704 

The  growth  of  these  libraries  has  really  been  remarkable;  for  outside  of  the 
institutional  libraries  practically  all  has  been  done  since  the  century  opened. 
The  Carnegie  Library  has  been  the  chief  factor  in  this  growth.  Of  these  I  hear 
good  reports.  In  most  cases  the  library  has  been  cataloged,  the  work  organ- 
ized, and  the  librarians  eager  to  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  make  the  library  help- 
ful to  the  community.  The  conditions,  however,  are  far  from  ideal,  and  it  has 
been  the  hope  of  the  Association  that  very  soon  there  might  be  established  a 
Library  Commission.  Such  a  commission  is  actively  at  work,  with  results,  in 
all  our  neighboring  states.  In  the  meantime  the  Association  has  aimed  as  far 
as  possible  to  make  up  for  the  want  of  the  commission.  It  has  been  working  for 
the  establishment  of  some  traveling  libraries;  for  the  experience  of  other  states 
serves  to  show  that  of  all  the  library  activities  this  form  pays  best  for  the  money 
expended.  It  has  planned  picture  circuits  whereby  especially  for  the  children 
the  library  room  might  be  made  increasingly  attractive;  it  has  tried  thru  its 
meetings  to  rouse  the  librarians  to  greater  helpfulness  to  the  communities 
which  they  serve.  Its  officers  hold  themselves  ready  to  do  everything  that 
can  be  done  thru  correspondence  to  promote  library  growth  and  to  increase 
library  efficiency. 

To  obtain  the  desired  information  about  school  libraries  the  following  ques- 
tions were  sent  out  in  May  to  the  high  schools: 

1 .  What  is  the  number  of  volumes  in  the  high  school  library  ? 

a.     Ref.  books,     b.     Sup.  reading,     c.     Add.  July  1-June  30,  1908 

2.  What  is  the  number  of  periodicals  subscribed  for? 

3.  How  and  where  are  books  kept? 

.     a.     In  a  library  room?    b.     Are  they  convenient  for  reference  use? 

4.  Are  they  lent  to  pupils  for  home  use? 

5.  Are  they  lent  to  others  than  pupils  and  teachers? 

6.  Statistics  of  circulation? 

7.  What  provision  is  made  for  use  of  books  during  vacation? 

8.  Would  the  use  of  books  during  vacation  be  appreciated  by  the  com 
munity? 

£.9.     Is  it  feasible  to  arrange  for  such  use? 

10.  Statistics  of  summer  use? 

1 1 .  Name  of  librarian  ? 


12 


SOUTH  DAKOTA  LIBRARIES 


12.     How  much  of  her  time  does  she  give  to  library  duties? 

Returns  from  the  schools  were  in  many  cases  not  made  at  all.  Blanks  were 
sent  out  twice  and  postal  card  notices  twice;  yet  in  the  end  only  39  out  of  75 
made  reply.  There  seemed  no  use  ,  therefore,  in  attempting  to  arrive  at  totals. 

In  the  following  table  are  listed  all  of  the  schools  replying : 


NAME 

Total  vols. 
in  library 

Ref. 
books 

Additions 
July  1907 
June  1908 

1     Alexandria 

300 

2     Arlington 

150 

50 

3     Beresford  
4     Britton  (a) 

807 
800 

115 
3CO 

.....V.:  
250 

5     Brookings 

2  000 

1  COO 

100 

6     Bryant  
7     Canton  
8     Castlewood  

615 
1,400 
596 

€0 

95 
50 

80 

9     Chamberlain  

860 

10     Clark  :  

1  500 

200 

300 

11     Clear  Lake  (a)      

300 

£0 

100 

12     Custer 

600 

13     Deadwood  (a) 

3  000 

14     Dell  Rapids  
15     DeSmet                             .    . 

250 
1  287 

*                50 
200 

50 
116 

16     Elk  Point  
17     Flandreau     ... 

1,200 
2  035 

700 
317 

100 

460 

18     Ft.  Pierre  
19     Groton  

420 
900 

225 

30 
80 

20     Howard  (a)  
21     Hudson  
22     Huron  (a)  
23     Ipswich  (a) 

200 
733 
1,705 
325 

17 
£02 
ICO 
60 

17 
72 
654 
40 

24     Lead  (a)                                 .  . 

3  000 

1  650 

250 

25     Madison  (a)  
26     Mitchell  (a)  
27     Parkston  

674 
356 
466 

425 
200 
50 

116 

56 
42 

28     Platte    

308 

96 

29     Plankinton  

900 

125 

150 

30     Rapid  City  .(  a)  

1  924 

97 

200 

31     Redfield  (a) 

800 

200 

100 

32     Salem 

850 

100 

50 

33     Sioux  Falls  (a^  

836 

ICO 

34     Sturgis  

2  100 

4CO 

101 

35     Vermillion  (a)  

667 

200 

90 

36     Watertown  (a) 

675 

631 

150 

37     Webster        ... 

2  000 

1  200 

200 

38     White    

591 

119 

11 

39    Yankton  (a)  .,  :  

1,011 

777 

226 

(a)     Has  public  library. 


What  constitutes  a  reference  book  those  who  answered  I  judge  are  not 
agreed  upon.  The  question  was  designed  to  bring  out,  of  course,  what  portion 
of  the  library  was  not  available  for  circulation;  and  reference  books  were  svp- 


LIBRARY  REPORT  13 


posed  to  include,  besides  the  encj-clopedias,  the  larger  histories,  histories  of  lit- 
erature, and  all  text-books.  It  is  hardly  conceivable  that  in  a  library  for  school 
use  of  several  hundred  volumes  only  a  handful  should  be  for  reference.  Some 
other  interpretations  was  probably  placed  upon  that  term. 

It  is  of  interest  to  note  what  influence  the  presence  of  a  public  library  has 
upon  the  school  library.  In  some  cases  it  would  seem  as  yet  to  have  no  influ- 
ence. The  school  library  in  several  such  towns  seems  just  as  large  and  just  as 
varied  as  if  no  pi  blic  library  existed.  In  other  cases  the  effect  has  been  most 
striking.  In  Sioux  Falls  for  example,  there  is  in  the  school  library  about  the 
the  same  number  of  books  as  in  Chamberlain.  It  must  be  noted  also  that  near- 
ly the  entire  number  consists  of  reference  books.  Such  must  certainly  be  the 
tendency  of  the  establishment  of  town  libraries;  to  cut  down  the  percentage  of 
fiction  and  other  circulating  books  purchased  for  the  school.  Does  the  presence 
of  a  fair  school  library  prevent  the  establishment  of  a  public  library  on  the 
ground  that  such  library  is  superfluous?  Some  superintendents  with  whom  I 
have  talked  are  of  the  opinion  that  such  is  not  the  case;  the  funds  they  sa}r  avail- 
able for  school  libraries  are  so  small  that  as  the  school  grows  the  demand  for 
reference  books  alone  passes  bej-ond  the  power  to  purchase  and  it  becomes 
impossible  to  provide,  with  school  funds,  books  for  general  reading.  Further- 
more it  is  urged  that  the  school  library  tends  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  reading,  to 
form  the  book  habit.  A  generation  brought  up  with  good  school  libraries  will 
not  be  satisfied  without  correspondingly  good  public  libraries. 

Almost  as  important  as  the  book  is  the  way  in  which  it  is  kept.  Only  one 
school  reports  that  their  books  are  not  convenient  for  reference  rse.  The  large 
number  of  24  reports  a  special  library  room  where  the  books,  at  least  in  part, 
are  kept.  In  only  a  few  cases,  however,  is  there  a  well  equipped  reading  or 
study  room.  Fourteen  schools  report  that  they  are  taking  some  periodicals, 
tho  the  number  in  nearly  every  case  is  small.  It  is  an  open  question  how  much 
encouragement  should  be  given  to  periodical  reading.  One  superintendent 
reports  a  very  great  interest  in  such  reading,  which  in  his  school  is  carried  on 
under  careful  supervision.  A  considerable  number  of  schools  designate  a  libra- 
rian, but  only  e ight  reported  definite  duties  and  hours  of  serv ice.  In  most  cases 
the  librarian  is  a  pupil  or  a  teacher  who  at  odd  times  gives  out  books.  The 
conditions  in  some  of  the  larger  schools  ,  however,  are  particularly  encouraging. 
Lead,  perhaps,  in  this  matter  exemplifies  its  name;  for  there  they  have  a  large 
and  well-equipped  reading  room,  under  the  constant  supervision  of  a  trained 
librarian,  who  devotes  her  entire  time  to  the  service  of  the  students.  In  smaller 
schools  the  example  might  well  be  followed  to  the  extent  of  detailing  for  an  hour 
each  day  one  of  the  teachers  to  library  duty;  she  should  then  help  those  who  are 
using  the  library;  to  give  out  books  is  the  smallest  part  of  a  librarian's  business. 
Only  seven  schools  report  any  statistics  of  circulation. 

Of  great  general  interest  is  the  amount  of  vacation  use  made  of  the  library. 
It  has  long  seemed  to  the  writer  a  sin  in  economy,  terrible  in  its  proportions, 
especially  for  a  people  so  practical  as  the  Americans  that  our  churches  should 
be  used  but  one  day  in  seven  and  that  for  many  months  the  school  houses 
should  be  a  refuge  only  for  spiders  and  vermin.  As  the  school  houses  are  be- 
coming equipped  with  more  and  more  of  expensive  furniture  and  apparatus  the 
economic  sin  seems  all  the  greater.  The  writer's  views  are  shared  by  a  consid- 


14  SOUTH  DAKOTA  LIBRARIES 

erable  portion  of  those  in  charge  of  the  high  schools;  for  five  sqhools  report  that 
they  are  already  in  some  way  making  provision  for  vacation  use  of  books. 
Thirteen  think  that  such  use  would  be  appreciated  by  the  community",  and  ten 
think  such  use  feasible.  How  this  shall  be  accomplished  is  of  course,  where  the 
difficulty  begins.  The  superintendent  in  Plankinton  checks  out  books  at  stated 
times  during  the  summer.  The  school  library  at  Elk  Point  is  open  two  days  ot 
each  week  for  the  use  of  the  public.  Perhaps  in  other  cases  this  might  be  good 
work  for  public  spirited  club  women. 

Libraries  grouped  by  size  are  as  follows : 

Number  containing  over  2,000  volumes 6 

Number  containing  from  1,800  to  2,000 1 

Number  containing  from  1,600  to  1,800  ..' » 1 

Number  containing  from  1,400  to  1,600 2 

Number  containing  from  1,200  to  1,400 2 

Number  containing  from  1,000  to  1,200 1 

Number  containing  from  800  to  1,000 7 

Number  containing  from  600  to  800 6 

Number  containing  from  400  to  600 5 

Number  containing  from  100  to  400  ., « 

Some  schools  even  throughout  the  school  year  are  extending  library  privi- 
leges to  the  public.  Sixteen  schools  report  that  they  are  lending  books  to 
others  than  pupils  and  teachers.  From  the  little  town  of  Britton  comes  the 
report  that  the  astounding  number  of  100  books  are  in  circulation  all  the  time; 
Britton  has  a  small  public  library  also. 

The  officers  of  the  /  ssociation  are  as  follows: 

President,  Wrn.  H.  Powers,  S.  D.,  S.  C.,  Brookings. 

Vice  Presidennt,  Edla  M.  Laurson,  Carnegie  Library,  Mitchell,  S.  D. 

Secretary-treasurer,  Nettie  I.  Current,  Carnegie  Library,  Sioux  Falls. 


